Determination of seasonal activity of the sweetpotato whitefly (Homoptera: Aleyrodidae) and leafhoppers (Homoptera: Cicadellidae) by plastic cup traps on the Çukurova Plain, Turkey.

Abstract

The flight activities of adult sweetpotato whitefly, Bemisia tabaci, and leafhoppers were monitored by plastic cup traps at Boğalı, Taşçı, Hacıali, Doğankent and Balcalı in the Çukurova Plain, Turkey, in 2001 and 2003. Activity of B. tabaci, expressed as numbers of adults caught in traps, was low from May to early July in both years. Numbers of B. tabaci caught at Tasçı were higher than at Boğalı from 10 July and 21 August in 2001. Its numbers were also higher at Doğankent than at Hacıali and Balcalı during August of 2003. The numbers of leafhopper adults caught fluctuated greatly in both years. Numbers remained low until late June, followed by gradual increases in July and August at Boğalı and Taşçı in 2001. In contrast, numbers of adults caught were higher at Hacıali, Doğankent and Balcalı from May through July in 2003, followed by lower catches during the remainder of the season. Daily minimum temperatures in July and August were positively correlated with higher trap catches of both B. tabaci and leafhoppers.